Automatic clutch



June 25 1940 c. E. HENRIOD, F||.s 2,205,833

AUTOMATIC CLUTCH Fil'ed June 29, 1937 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 u J0 u je; J 7

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o Je@ aus :hwg/Navo Z- c//A/afs fon/4R0 Hs/vR/aqF/Ls' June 25, 1940. c. E. HENRIOD. FILS AuToMATIc CLUTCH Filed June 29. 1937 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patentedl June `25, 1940 t UNITED STATES AUTOMATIC CLUTCH chai-ies Edouard nemica, mais, Neuilly-subsane, France Application June 29, 1937, sensi No. 151,020

- In Luxemburg February 1, 1937 3 Claims.

clutches and it is more especially, although not exclusively, concerned with clutches of this kind for use in connection with variable ratio trans- 5 missions for automobile vehicles.`

The object of the present invention is to arrange the control means of these clutches in such manner that they can work in a simpler and more efficient manner and that the disengagement of the clutch can'take place Without dilculty and without delay, which is an essential condition of the proper Working of an automatic clutch.

'According to .the essential feature of the presl5 ent invention, Whereas the clutch is controlled.

by centrifugal masses, in some cases at least cooperating With means such as springs which exert a force opposing that developed by the centrifugal masses, means for transmitting the action o f the driving torque or of the resistant torque, and so on, said centrifugal masses are adapted to act substantially directly on the coacting parts of the clutch through balls or rollers housed in recesses the walls of which are inclined in such a manner that the effect resulting from the variation of the centrifugal force and of the driving effort directly and immediately produces a relative displacement of said balls and said inclined Walls and consequently a modification of the degree of application of the coacting parts of the clutch with respect to one another.

Another feature 4of the present invention consists in connecting a clutch ofthe type above referred to with the member to be driven through means deformable in the direction of the axis of said member, said means being preferably given an elasticity such that the whole can constitute, at least partly, the opposing means which cooperate inthe control of theclutch.

Other features of the present invention will result from the following description of some specific embodiments thereof` Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be hereinafter described, with reference to the accompanyingdrawings, given merely b Way of example, and in which; y

Fig. 1 is an axial sectional view'on the line I-I of Fig. 2 of a gear box for automobile vehicles including automatic clutches made according to the present invention; V

Fig. 2 is a sectional view on the line vII--II of Fig. 1. e

In the following description, it will be supposed that it is desired to obtain an automatic clutch adapted to be used in connection with an auto- (Cl. u32- 105) The present invention relates to automaticmatic variable speed transmission for automobile vehicles.

Such an automatic clutch system will be made as fo'llows:

Concerning the clutch mechanism proper, it is 5 made in any suitable manner, and for instance as follows:

It is desired to connect through coupling means adapted to be gradually brought into or out of action, a member I, driven by a driving shaft 2 l0 and a fly-wheel 3, with a member 4, connected through-means which will be lspecifically described hereinafter with a driven shaft 5. It has been supposed, by Way of example, that the member to be driven, such as 4, consists of a plate l5 or disc carrying on both of its faces friction elements 6 intended to be caught between the driving member l, consisting of a disc or.plate, and an annular disc m'ember turning together with said member i and designated by reference 20 number l. Therefore, when the coupling means are in operation, plate 4 is tightly held in a kind of annular pair of jaws.

Concerning the device for automatically controlling the clutch, I make use, according to the 25 invention, of the following arrangement:

'I'he disengagement of' the clutch is obtained, in the usual manner, through elastic means consisting, inthe example illustrated by the drawings, of springs 9 -distributed along the circum- 30 ferential periphery of annular disc member l.

In the embodiment shown, the driving members i and 'i are applied against the respective opposite faces of the plate 4 to be driven by means of masses lil. Each of the centrifugal masses is 35 made of two flanges, of the shape of circular sectors and Whichare connected together by bolts 55, the transverse section of the mass thus constituted having the shape of a U the legs of N which overlap the plates or discs i and 'l pro- 40 vided on either side of the plate or plates 6 carrying the frictional elements of the corresponding clutch. These masses are housed in apertures 56, lil provided in parts i and l, and are prevented from ,moving axially in'these `apei'- 45 tures because the faces of their legs are constantly in contact with balls it and i6 which themselves bear respectively on elements l and ll ofthe clutch. These balls Id and IS are housed-in corresponding recesses the walls of Whlchcon 5o sidered in the radial direction of plate members i and l; are inclined as shown at I5, over a length and at an angle which are suitably chosen forthe desired purpose as will be hereinafter explained. On the other hand, \these recesses are 55 'length of recesses l5. .It follows that mass' It is maintained only by balls i4 and I6 and can therefore move radially with respect to plates I and 1 when the latter are rotated by driving shaft 2.

lAs a consequence of this radial displacement,

balls I4 and It are driven in the same direction and move along the inclined walls I5. When the speed of jplate' I increases, I thus obtain a gradual movement of members I and 1 towards each other and consequently member 4 is tightly held between the driving parts I and 1, the axial thrust increasing in accordance wtih the square ofthe speed of driving shaft 2. As the movement of members I and 1 towards each other is obtained throlmh balls I4 and I6 and as the edges of the orliices 56 and 51 remain always out o! contact with mass I0, the relative movements between the parts which produce the engagement of cooperating parts of the clutch take place practically without friction and masses I4 occupy, at any time, positions, in the radial direction, corresponding to'the speed of the driving shaft 2. It should be noted that the action of balls I4 and I6 also produces an effort tending automatically to engage the parts of the clutchwith one another because plate member I is driven merely by the balls themselves which cooperate with the inclined walls of the recesses. Therefore, the total effort tending .to bring the clutch into action is the 'resultant of two` forces at right angles to eachother, to wit, (l) the centrifugal force, and (2) the tangential driving eort of plate 1. When the speed -of driving shaft 2 decreases. balls I4 and I5, driven by masses III, automatically come back toward their central position, thus reducing the effort of application of the clutch elements against each other. With such an arrangement, no large force opposes the action of springs 5 which urge members I and 1. away from the driven element 4.

Inv the-drawings, I have shown, by way of example, a three speed 'gear box with reverse scar.v in which automatic clutches of the kind above described are advantageously employed. As this gear bex does not constitute. in itself, the object of the invention it will be described but shortly, but sufficiently for explaining the conditions under 'which these clutches are brought into play.

The clutch mechanism as above described serves to couple the driving shaft 2 with thev driven shaft 5 for the first gear drive. For this purpose, mames Il and recesses I5 are devised in such manner thatfor an increasing speed of shaft 2 from zero up to a predetermined limit value corresponding to the bi'insing into action of the first gear combination, I obtain, as a consequence of the radial displacement of masses", a gradual engagement of the clutch for driving disc 4. The latter is connected to an external sleeve 2l freely rotatable about shaft 5 and this 'sleeve drives shaft 5 through gear trains 2I and 22. The transmission pinion of trainll is connected to the transmission pin-"-- i 'ion-of an adjacent gear train 2l (corresponding to second gear) through afree wheel device;

made of a depth (in the axial direction) such 2li. Gear train 22 rotates an internal sleeve 24 rigid with a plate 25 which drives, through balls 26, an annular member 21. The latter in turn drlves, through balls 28, a member 29 connected through sleeve 30, with the driven shaft 5. I ix, on sleeve 30, for instance by screws or rivets 5I, anelastic disc 52, forinstance of the steel employed for making leaf springs, and I connect'the free edge `of this disc. for instance by means of screws or rivets 53, with the periphery of disc 29. With this arrangement, disc 52 ensures the desired .drive between these two elements, while permitting the translatory .displacement of disc 29, when the latter moves toward. or away from, annular member 21, for engaging or disengaging clutch 42. The 'elasticity of the disc may, in fact,'be such that its yielding resistance intervenes for facilitating the movement of elements 21 and 29 away from each other when'disengaging the clutch. Balls 2S and 23 are housed in circular and tapered recesses the walls of which are inclined in a manner analogous with walls I5. Y

It follows from `the preceding explanations thatthe driven shaft 5, which is driven in first gear by gear trains 2| and 22, transmits to member 29 the effect of the resisting torque, whereas plate 25 is connected through the internal sleeve 24 with the gear train 22 through which the driving torque is transmitted. Due to the difference existing between the driving torque and the resisting torque, at slow speeds of the vehicle, angular displacements, limited by balls 23 and 25,

exist between disc 29 and annular member 21,

on the one hand, and between said annular member and lplate 25, on the other hand. As a con-l sequence of these angular displacements, I obtain, at the same time, a movement of the parts separated by the balls away from each other.

Plate 25 and annular member 21 constitute the driven' shaft through gear trains 23 and 22, a free wheel 231 being inserted in train 23.

In order to obtain the tightening (or operative engagement) of this clutch 3|, I make use of .masses 35, analogous to masses I0 and which act through balls 31 on plate 25 and on annular member 21. As above explained, I obtain, 'as a con- Y 1 sequence of the radial movement of masses 35,

under the effect of the rotation of plate 25, a movement of members 25 and 21 towards each other, which causes the clutch 3l to be engaged.

The control of clutch 3| is therefore obtained through the action of balls 26 which, under the eect of the resisting torque, tend to move elements 25 and 21 away from each other and through the simultaneous action of masses 35 whichmnder the eiect of the speed, tend to bring the same elements toward each other. According to which of these two actions predominates, I therefore obtain the engagement or disengage ment of clutch 3|. The size and location of balls 2l and of masses 36 are determined in such manner that the action of masses 36 predominates for angular velocities of plate 25 corresponding to the drive in second gear.

Annular members 21 and 29 constitute the tightening elements .of a clutch 42 intended to couple member 25 with an annular member 43 permanently driven by fly-wheel 3. This annular member 43 is capable of sliding axially with respect to said fly-wheel I while being constant- 1 escasas together through means hereinafter described.

In order to obtain the engagement of the parts of this clutch 42, I make use of masses 4B analogous to masses vIB and 35 above referred to and which, through balls 41, housed in recesses, act on annular members`21 and 29. When the action of the speed which tends to displace masses 4S in the radial direction becomes more important than that of 'the resisting torque, which-tends to move balls 28 away from the median position,

clutch 42 is engaged end direct drive is obtained. The size andlocation of balls 28 and masses 46 are determined in such manner that the action of masses 46 predominates at the angular velocities of plate 25 which correspond to direct drive.

As above explained, it is necessary, espeially for obtaining or cancelling direct drive, by 'engaging or disengaging clutch 42, that member 29 may slide axially with respect to the driven shaft 5, while being constantly driven in rotation to'- gether with it. In order to comply with this condition disc` 29 might be slidably keyed on said shaft 5 or on sleeve 30, 'which is keyed on said shaft. 'I'he clutches are connected to elements such as 20, 24 and 5 through discs or blades 521, 522 and 523 which are suitably elastic.

In the case of masses 36 and 46, the' recesses provided in the adjacent faces of masses 36 Aand of parts 25 and 21 (or masses 4 6 and parts 21 and 29) instead of being conical on both sides, may be made as shown by grooves |51 and l52 (visible in Fig. 2). The object of this arrangement is to permit the relative angular displacement of a plate with respect to the other under the effect of balls 26 (or 28). Y

By making the centrifugal masses Il, 36 and 4E as above explained, I simplify their manufacture and their assembly. Furthermore, as the centrifugal masses bear exclusively through balls or the like on the parts that they are to control and which serve at the same time to their guiding, friction is reduced to a. minimum and any jamming is made impossible, whereby the masses can werk under the best possible conditions of operation.

With the arrangement "above described, I obtain an automatic control clutch which is well adapted to the purpose set forth in the preamble of the description and with which the maximum application of the friction elements can be limited to the desired degree by the dimensions given to the balls I4, I6, 31 and 41 and their recesses. 0n the other hand, this tightening takes place in a gradual manner and exactly proportionally to the instantaneous value of the speed acting on masses i0, 36 or 46. since friction is practically eliminated. It follows that the disengagement of the clutch begins for a well determined Y speed, without any risk of adhesion of the clutch parts which generally delay the disengagement thereof.

In a general manner, while I have, in the above description,` disclosed what I deem to be practical and emcient embodiments of the presenty invention, it should be well understood that I do not wish to be limited thereto as there might Abe changes made in the arrangement, disposition and form of the parts without departing from the principle of the present invention as comprehended within the scope of the appended claims.

what I claim is:

l. A clutch which comprises, in combination,

a rotary plate, a rotary disc and a rotary annular member both coaxial with said rotary plate and located on opposite sides thereof respectively, said disc and said plate constituting jaw-like elements movable axially in opposite respective directions, so as to hold between them said rotary plate or to release it, a U-shaped member forlning a centrifugal mass having the inner' faces of the branches of the U located at' right angles to the above menln'oned axes and'adjacent respectively Vto the outer faces of said rotary'disc and said rotary annular. member, so as to form two pairs of adjacent faces, one belonging tothe U-shaped centrifugalrmass and the other to the rotary to the rotary annular memberVV and the other to the U-shaped centrifugal mass for the other pair, the two faces of each'pair being provided Y with respective corresponding radial recesses having bottoms inclined in opposed\respectiveV directions, in section by an axial plane, and .balls disc for the iirstpair, and one belonging between said faces of 'each pair engaged each in s two corresponding recesses of said respective faces of the pair, in such manner that the eifect resulting from variations of the centrifugal force produces a displacement `of said balls along saidA inclined bottoms and consequentlyl an, axial rela'- tive displacement of said rotary'disc and annu# lar member toward or away fromsaid annular plate. Y i Y 2. A clutch comprising/a rst rotatable element, and a second rotatable element composed of two Vparts `on opposite sides of said first element, and means to bringsaid two partstogetherv to clamp. the first element'ltherebetween, comprising a centrifugal mass member havingporeV h'ons thereof lying on opposite sides of the two. parts of said second rotatable element, the opposed faces of such partsand portions having re cesses therein provided Ywith inclined walls, and'. balls in said recesses, whereby centrifugal force acting on said mass member moves the'same prising a U-shaped mass portion having its legs lying on' the outer sides-of said parts, the opposed faces of such legs and Y parts having recesses therein provided with inclined walls, and balls in said recesses, whereby cen gal force acting on said mass portion moves said legs to urge said Y parts together.

nDoUARDr-mrmron, Fna.

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